Natasha Lomas
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The Latest from Natasha Lomas
France records big jump in privacy complaints since GDPR
Another European data protection agency has reported a sharp rise in the numbers of complaints since the EU updated its privacy framework four months ago, when GDPR came into force, updating regional
License caps and CCTV among ride-hailing rule changes urged in report to UK gov’t
Uber and similar services could be facing caps on the number of licenses for vehicles that can operate ride-hailing services in London and other UK cities under rule changes being recommended to the g
UberEats UK couriers striking over pay changes
Groups of UberEats couriers are continuing to strike over pay and calling for a minimum £5 per delivery fee. Several strikes have been reported in London over the past few days, as well as other UK c
Seven reasons not to trust Facebook to play cupid
This week Facebook has launched a major new product play, slotting an algorithmic dating service inside its walled garden as if that’s perfectly normal behavior for an ageing social network. Ins
Facebook warned to amend ToS to fix EU consumer rights issues by year’s end
Facebook has been singled out for censure by the European Commission’s head of consumer affairs who has warned she’s running out of patience and said the company needs to make additional c
Equifax slapped with UK’s maximum penalty over 2017 data breach
Credit rating giant Equifax has been issued with the maximum possible penalty by the UK’s data protection agency for last year’s massive data breach. Albeit, the fine is only £500,000 bec
EU antitrust regulator eyeing Amazon’s use of merchant data
The European Union’s competition commission is looking into how Amazon uses data from retailers selling via its ecommerce marketplace, Reuters reports. Competition commissioner Margrethe Vestage
Adblock Plus maker has a new taskforce to fight publisher efforts to reinject ads
In the arms race of ad blocking there’s clearly never a dull moment as efforts to block ads are combated by publisher and platform countermeasures trying to fox the blocks. This is why Adblock P
Telegram to replace iOS messaging app with Telegram X Swift rebuild
Telegram has announced it will be migrating iOS users of its messaging app to a rebuilt-from-scratch Swift version. It’s been running two versions of its app in parallel on iOS and Android duri
IBM launches cloud tool to detect AI bias and explain automated decisions
IBM has launched a software service that scans AI systems as they work in order to detect bias and provide explanations for the automated decisions being made — a degree of transparency that may
Waitrose switches up a gear to launch two-hour grocery deliveries in London
Up market UK supermarket chain Waitrose will start trialing two-hour or same day delivery options in certain London postcodes from tomorrow. It’s partnering with CitySprint Group courier deliver
Call for smart home devices to bake in privacy safeguards for kids
A new research report has raised concerns about how in-home smart devices such as AI virtual voice assistants, smart appliances, and security and monitoring technologies could be gathering and sharing
Facebook named in suit alleging job ads on its platform unlawfully discriminated against women
Facebook’s ad platform is facing charges that it has enabled gender-based discrimination against millions of women in a class action suit filed on behalf of three female workers and backed by th
Ultimate.ai nabs $1.3M for a customer service AI focused on non-English markets
For customer service, Ultimate.ai‘s thesis is it’s not humans or AI but humans and AI. The Helsinki- and Berlin-based startup has built an AI-powered suggestion engine that, once trained o
Natural Cycles contraception app told to clarify pregnancy risks
A multi-month investigation by Sweden’s Medical Products Agency into a number of unwanted pregnancies among users of ‘digital contraception’ app Natural Cycles has been closed afte
Facebook is hiring a director of human rights policy to work on “conflict prevention” and “peace-building”
Facebook is advertising for a human rights policy director to join its business, located either at its Menlo Park HQ or in Washington DC — with “conflict prevention” and “peace
The iPhone XR shows Apple admitting 3D Touch is a failure
Remember 3D Touch? Unless you’re a power iOS user you probably don’t. Or, well, you’d rather not. It’s been clear for some time now that the technology Apple lauded at its 2015
Uber drivers in Denmark could face fines for every ride they offered
The Danish Supreme Court has upheld large fines issued to several Uber drivers for operating without a taxi license, at a time when the ride-hailing giant was still running its non-licensed p2p driver
UK’s mass surveillance regime violated human rights law, finds ECHR
In another blow to the UK government’s record on bulk data handling for intelligence purposes the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that state surveillance practices violated human
Kano’s latest computer kit for kids doubles down on touch
Learn-to-code startup Kano, whose products aim to turn kids into digital makers, has taken the wraps off the latest incarnation of its build-it-yourself computer kit. With the new flagship Kano is do